Cobra Starship: The "Other" Side Of Gabe

[Jason Tate]

Gabe Saporta (Cobra Starship (http://www.cobrastarship.com)) emailed me a few days ago about a post we had (http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=155624) on our website a while back (turns out the email got lost in the internets). I felt that the information in it was still relevant and while it may be late - there were a few things that fans should hear. Don't forget: Cobra Starship's new album hits stores 10/10 (http://www.absolutepunk.net/calendar.php?do=getinfo&e=1053&c=3).
I wanted to take a minute to respond to all the posts and explain my motivations for Cobras and for signing to Decaydance.

First, I want to say that I appreciate that people are taking an interest in what I'm doing. It's better to be loved and hated than to be totally ignored.

Word up. Now:

Making Forget What You Know was an amazing experience for me because I got to make the album I've always wanted to make. I poured my heart into that record and dug deep to express and make sense of things about myself that I didn't understand. It made me come to terms with and face a lot of the ugly and uncomfortable sides of my existence. And because FWYK was such a personal record, I felt very protective over it and didn't want to do anything to undermine its integrity. I refused to do interviews with certain magazines, I was precious about using photos of the band, I was elitist about which bands we would tour with etc, etc.

Success in business comes from the art of compromise, but success in art (creative and personal, not financial) stems from an unwillingness to compromise. And I learned firsthand that attempting to reconcile the two usually becomes an awkward balancing act where you end up satisfying neither.

After my experiences early on with Drive-Thru and MCA, I made a conscious decision to make a record free from compromise. I remember Rob, Heath, Tyler and myself sitting down after we had finished FWYK (with no label support or interest) and saying that we didn't give a shit if it didn't sell a single copy, because we finally made the record we had always wanted to make. We made FWYK first and foremost for ourselves, to satisfy our creative and artistic ambitions, with absolutely no care or regard for what anyone else thought. It was an amazing experience; to create something with so much attention to detail, to imbue it with a sense of cohesion from beginning to end and to finally bring it to life. And on top of that, finding that every label wanted to sign us and buy that record was a huge validation for our efforts.

So when we finally signed to Columbia, we came in with the attitude that we were going to do things our way. That we were going to be on a major, but set our own rules. We quickly discovered that that's not the way it works. You either play ball or you don't. It's not that Columbia didn't support us, quite the contrary; they made every effort to let us do our thing and promote the record. But the truth is, if someone keeps bringing you opportunities, and you keep saying no, they're going to quickly stop going out of their way to find you opportunities.

We thought we could succeed on the merits of our music alone, without having to do any cheesy promotion that might compromise the record. We were wrong. Not that we failed-- we sold a modest 75k copies of FWYK. But when the expectations are so high, that just seems like a flash in the pan. The truth though, is that I couldn't be happier about the way things worked out with that record. I made a record that I will be able to look back on 20 years from now and still be proud of. And I didn't do anything to compromise how I feel about that record; to make the record feel like it was less mine. It's something that no one will ever be able to take away from me, and I feel very fortunate for that.

So the question for me was, where to go from there? I felt like I had already made the record I was supposed to make, the record that challenged me as a musician, and that challenged me as a person. The questions I was able to answer by making that record, didn't need to be asked anymore--I didn't want to keep repeating myself. So what now? Part of me just wanted to stop making music. I felt like I had accomplished everything I had set out to do when I first started touring when I was 16. I felt like I learned everything I could about myself through music and that it was time to look elsewhere. But then there was a part of me that wanted to make music fun again. To not have it be so serious, so precious, so personal that I was uncomfortable sharing it. I wanted to make it fun for me and I wanted to make other people have fun.

Although FWYK is a dark record, there is a part of me who is a goofball that likes to dance and get sassy. And there is a part of me that gets drunk and acts like an asshole. That part of me doesn't invalidate my serious side. Because there will always be a part of me that contemplates my existence and questions everything I think I know. But sometimes I need to stop asking so many questions and just get fucked up. That's what Cobra Starship is all about. The world is totally going to hell, and I'm throwing the party. It's about me not taking myself so seriously despite how fucked up things really are. It's about having a good time, fucking around, and getting people riled up.

Now, onto getting people riled up.

In terms of the post about signing to Fueled by Ramen/Decaydance and walking away from 500k: First off, I know that sarcasm can be lost over the internet, but I thought the Jawbreaker reference was a dead giveaway (for those who got it, at least). Anyway, I know it's tacky to talk about money, but my stance now is that I'm just going to tell it like it is. You may or may not like it, but it's the truth. The music business is soooooooo fucked up today, and I don't think many people understand just how difficult it is for bands to be able to make a living from music. That's why so many of your favorite bands break up. That money I was being offered was more money than I have ever seen in my life, and walking away from it was and still is one of the scariest things I've had to do. And in response to what someone said--that I am taking the deal because I will get more on the back-end: Absolutely not true. I had a better back-end deal at Columbia than I have now at Decaydance. So why did I take the Decaydance deal? Because I want to be able to make music for a long time. I want to have a career. I don't need to be rich doing it, but I would love to be able to make a living. And I know that the people that will be working with me at Fueled by Ramen and Decaydance understand where I'm coming from and where I want to go. If I stayed where I was, I would have gotten a fat check upfront, but that would have probably been the end of my career. Here, I'm getting nothing upfront, but I'm getting people who believe in me and know how to help me have a career. Hey, if not, I can always go back to beauty school.

[Drew Beringer]

Buy this album, that is all I have to say.

Oh and :drew: (I love having a smiley named after me :D)

[danielplaysbass]

Buy this album, that is all I have to say.

i just might. its a fun listen

[MKEcasey]

The signing to FBR/Decaydance part makes sense. I still miss Midtown though.

[Jason Tate]

i just might. its a fun listen
It's a whole lot of fun. If you get a chance - see them live, really good performance - and I think it makes the album even more fun to listen to.

[irthesteve]

and the status of Midtown is still not compleatly answered

[falloutdrea19]

i love him. that was an awesome e-mail.

[lightcollapse]

this better go platinum, or i'm going to make an angry face in pete wentz's direction.

[cubz84]

meh, this album did nothing for me. the first track is ok. the rest is just whatever. i miss midtown.

[Jason Tate]

meh, this album did nothing for me. the first track is ok. the rest is just whatever. i miss midtown.
The first track is sort of a response to you then.

[danielplaysbass]

It's a whole lot of fun. If you get a chance - see them live, really good performance - and I think it makes the album even more fun to listen to.
they're playing in sacramento tomorrow, i was planning on going. until i realized its Yom Kippur and i have to attend to that. oh well, next time.

[Jason Tate]

and the status of Midtown is still not compleatly answered
How is it still not answered? I am trying to figure out how people can't figure this all out.

[xearlynovemberx]

I wanna see Cobra live

[lightcollapse]

How is it still not answered? I am trying to figure out how people can't figure this all out.

it's so sad...i don't want midtown to be done

[intoyourarms]

obviously midtown is dead. i still remember seeing them open for nfg and blink. god damn that was so long ago.

[lightcollapse]

i fucking love midtown. cobra is neat. i fucking love midtown.

[irthesteve]

How is it still not answered? I am trying to figure out how people can't figure this all out.
well obviously they are on quite a long break, but i still can't believe cobra is going to be gabe's sole project. all this talk of needing to get his serious side out means that he still wants to make music in the vein of midtown. i still think that they are going to do something eventually, but not soon

[Jason Tate]

it's so sad...i don't want midtown to be done

Gotta let the member do what they think is best. I'd rather not have them force an album or tour, if the members aren't in the mood to be doing it.

They should have exploded with "Living Well.." - it's still one of the best "pop-punk" CDs I've ever heard. Guess it was "before its time" - cause FOB fans today would probably eat that album up. Hell, "Still Trying" has a chorus that reminds me of "Grand Theft Auto's" chorus in a big way.

[ColourandShape]

yeah so...i read the interview, he turned down big money for a longer career, fine. what happened to band loyalty? what the fuck is going on with midtown? someone please tell me. that band was my gateway band, through midtown i discovered the bands/mucsic that i now know and love. If they broke up and hate each other, fine....just let us now. i can't see cobra past some SOAP novalty shit, i hate all the songs, it just sound sso fordced.


hey tate, not too point fingers, but dude... you did post on here a few weeks ago that "they better release this album before the novelty wears off"

thoughts on that comment?

[Jason Tate]

well obviously they are on quite a long break, but i still can't believe cobra is going to be gabe's sole project. all this talk of needing to get his serious side out means that he still wants to make music in the vein of midtown. i still think that they are going to do something eventually, but not soon
See, you have your answer. :-)

[lightcollapse]

Gotta let the member do what they think is best. I'd rather not have them force an album or tour, if the members aren't in the mood to be doing it.

They should have exploded with "Living Well.." - it's still one of the best "pop-punk" CDs I've ever heard. Guess it was "before it's time" - cause FOB fans today would probably eat that album up. Hell, "Still Trying" has a chorus that reminds me of "Grand Theft Auto's" chorus in a big way.

haha, i just want a chance to see midtown, i dont' really care about an album if they're not feeling it.

[Jason Tate]

yeah so...i read the interview, he turned down big money for a longer career, fine. what happened to band loyalty? what the fuck is going on with midtown? someone please tell me. that band was my gateway band, through midtown i discovered the bands/mucsic that i now know and love. If they broke up and hate each other, fine....just let us now. i can't see cobra past some SOAP novalty shit, i hate all the songs, it just sound sso fordced.


hey tate, not too point fingers, but dude... you did post on here a few weeks ago that "they better release this album before the novelty wears off"

thoughts on that comment?
Band loyalty? You don't think the band talks? Gabe lives close to Tyler, still talks to Rob and is in contact with Heath as well. Everyone in the band is doing their own thing - to bring up "band loyalty" is pretty fucking lame. They have let you know, a million fucking times, what they are doing, and what their status is - if you haven't figured it out - that's your deal.

Yeah, I said that before I heard the CD. I thought it was going to be a huge joke band, all in the vein of "Bring It." I was wrong.

Furthermore, "forced"? How are the songs "forced"? I don't understand that at all. If Midtown released "The Kids Are All Fucked Up" or "You Can't Be Missed" (among others on the album) - people would probably be going nuts over it.

[danielplaysbass]

They should have exploded with "Living Well.." - it's still one of the best "pop-punk" CDs I've ever heard. Guess it was "before it's time" - cause FOB fans today would probably eat that album up. Hell, "Still Trying" has a chorus that reminds me of "Grand Theft Auto's" chorus in a big way.
agreed

[Jason Tate]

haha, i just want a chance to see midtown, i dont' really care about an album if they're not feeling it.
You never saw them? Man .. that sucks. Midtown on the FWYK tour was one of the best performances I've ever seen. Gabe ended the performance singing (screaming) a capella to the final verse, and then he just tossed his bass over his head and walked off stage. It was one of the coolest things I've ever seen. I think I saw them 6 or 7 times; amazing live band.

[lightcollapse]

You never saw them? Man .. that sucks. Midtown on the FWYK tour was one of the best performances I've ever seen. Gabe ended the performance singing (screaming) a capella to the final verse, and then he just tossed his bass over his head and walked off stage. It was one of the coolest things I've ever seen. I think I saw them 6 or 7 times; amazing live band.

i haven't seen ANY bands i like (except saves the day and the early november, i saw both of them) because i can't drive. my life sucks.

but yeah, that sounds fucking remarkable. i am in love with midtown.

[Chris Fallon]

So when is Cobra coming my way? I wanna see Gabe live again, all by his lonesome.

I loved when I got to see him with Midtown. Plus he was a really cool dude to talk about the crowd with. I can honestly say he's one of my favorite people in music. Like Dave Grohl, he can do almost anything and get away with it sounding rad as hell.

[ColourandShape]

Band loyalty? You don't think the band talks? Gabe lives close to Tyler, still talks to Rob and is in contact with Heath as well. Everyone in the band is doing their own thing - to bring up "band loyalty" is pretty fucking lame. They have let you know, a million fucking times, what they are doing, and what their status is - if you haven't figured it out - that's your deal.

Yeah, I said that before I heard the CD. I thought it was going to be a huge joke band, all in the vein of "Bring It." I was wrong.

Furthermore, "forced"? How are the songs "forced"? I don't understand that at all. If Midtown released "The Kids Are All Fucked Up" or "You Can't Be Missed" (among others on the album) - people would probably be going nuts over it.


well its your site...i get pretty much all much info on bands based on this site. stupid, i know, but i can't go to every band that i love website every day. the facts is, i'm a huge midtown fan...i cannot see past this as a break from midtown to do some gimmicky shit. everyone in midown may be doing their own thing, but this is obviously the most public... its gonna take the most criticism. i hate this kind of music, i think its a fad, it should and probably will be gone soon. its an opinion, i think musically, this is a major step back for gabe. i always thught gabe and midotwn were pretty damn innovative when it cme to music in their genre, and this cobra stuff is just so damn generic.

[danielplaysbass]

i haven't seen ANY bands i like (except saves the day and the early november, i saw both of them) because i can't drive. my life sucks.

but yeah, that sounds fucking remarkable. i am in love with midtown.

enjoy this: http://download.yousendit.com/3FBF730A1385385B

[Chris Fallon]

Gotta let the member do what they think is best. I'd rather not have them force an album or tour, if the members aren't in the mood to be doing it.

They should have exploded with "Living Well.." - it's still one of the best "pop-punk" CDs I've ever heard. Guess it was "before its time" - cause FOB fans today would probably eat that album up. Hell, "Still Trying" has a chorus that reminds me of "Grand Theft Auto's" chorus in a big way.

I agree with this statement 100%.

Living Well Is The Best Revenge is one of my all-time favorite albums, and I'll bet you it would be fucking huge if it had been released 2-3 years after it originally was.

I still remember buying that before even really knowing who Midtown was - I mainly bought it because of the Drive-Thru logo on the back, haha. Turns out, I listened to that album for an entire year, just like I did later with Take This To Your Grave.

Too bad only two other friends of mine even know who Midtown is. I'm telling you, if they released it now, people would love it. Imagine a Midtown/Fall Out Boy/Spitalfield tour and how much kids would eat that shit up. Although, why have those cocksuckers at a good show like that? They'd just ruin it for me.

[Jason Tate]

well its your site...i get pretty much all much info on bands based on this site. stupid, i know, but i can't go to every band that i love website every day. the facts is, i'm a huge midtown fan...i cannot see past this as a break from midtown to do some gimmicky shit. everyone in midown may be doing their own thing, but this is obviously the most public... its gonna take the most criticism. i hate this kind of music, i think its a fad, it should and probably will be gone soon. its an opinion, i think musically, this is a major step back for gabe. i always thught gabe and midotwn were pretty damn innovative when it cme to music in their genre, and this cobra stuff is just so damn generic.
1) Senses Fail is much bigger than Cobra Starship.
2) Your gimmicky argument is answered in track 1 of the new album, and in every post Gabe hass made on this website (and this email).
3) Generic is relative.
4) If Gabe wasn't doing this, I highly doubt we'd be any closer to a new Midtown album. The band would probably be on hiatus anyway. I'll take what I can get.

[xearlynovemberx]

You never saw them? Man .. that sucks. Midtown on the FWYK tour was one of the best performances I've ever seen. Gabe ended the performance singing (screaming) a capella to the final verse, and then he just tossed his bass over his head and walked off stage. It was one of the coolest things I've ever seen. I think I saw them 6 or 7 times; amazing live band.

I saw them right before FWYK came out with TBS and Brand New

[ColourandShape]

I agree with this statement 100%.

Living Well Is The Best Revenge is one of my all-time favorite albums, and I'll bet you it would be fucking huge if it had been released 2-3 years after it originally was.

I still remember buying that before even really knowing who Midtown was - I mainly bought it because of the Drive-Thru logo on the back, haha. Turns out, I listened to that album for an entire year, just like I did later with Take This To Your Grave.

Too bad only two other friends of mine even know who Midtown is. I'm telling you, if they released it now, people would love it. Imagine a Midtown/Fall Out Boy/Spitalfield tour and how much kids would eat that shit up. Although, why have those cocksuckers at a good show like that? They'd just ruin it for me.


i agree that album is insanely good....

how come the don't really play that many songs from it live?

[lightcollapse]

I saw them right before FWYK came out with TBS and Brand New

if you're lying to me, i hate you.

if you're telling the truth...i still hate you

[Jason Tate]

i agree that album is insanely good....

how come the don't really play that many songs from it live?
Cause they started retiring songs during the FWYK tour.

[xearlynovemberx]

if you're lying to me, i hate you.

if you're telling the truth...i still hate you

Nope. It was Taking Back Sunday,Brand New,Midtown,New Found Glory,Story Of The Year,Jay-Z(one song),Yeah Yeah Yeah's,Cypress Hill,The Beastie Boys

[danielplaysbass]

Nope. It was Taking Back Sunday,Brand New,Midtown,New Found Glory,Story Of The Year,Jay-Z(one song),Yeah Yeah Yeah's,Cypress Hill,The Beastie Boys

holy crap, im so jealous.

what jay-z song?

[xearlynovemberx]

holy crap, im so jealous.

what jay-z song?

99 Problems it was the best show i have EVER seen

[danielplaysbass]

99 Problems it was the best show i have EVER seen

you have no idea how jealous i am.

no idea.

[chokeychicken]

I agree with this statement 100%.

Living Well Is The Best Revenge is one of my all-time favorite albums, and I'll bet you it would be fucking huge if it had been released 2-3 years after it originally was.

I still remember buying that before even really knowing who Midtown was - I mainly bought it because of the Drive-Thru logo on the back, haha. Turns out, I listened to that album for an entire year, just like I did later with Take This To Your Grave.

Too bad only two other friends of mine even know who Midtown is. I'm telling you, if they released it now, people would love it. Imagine a Midtown/Fall Out Boy/Spitalfield tour and how much kids would eat that shit up. Although, why have those cocksuckers at a good show like that? They'd just ruin it for me.

i also agree with the statement that along with your favorite weapon and nothing gold can stay, living well is the best revenge is one of the best pop punk cd's of all time. hands down. no question.

i remember listening to that shit on a walkman (!!) on the bus ride home in 9th grade. holy shit that was so long ago. jesus, i miss 1997.

i think i could accept the breakup of bands like midtown a lot more if they did a final show, or better yet, a final tour. i know a lot of planning, money, and other things go into such things, but i'm sure something could be put together to give the kids one last midtown show where all the favorites from all the records were played.

with that said, i cannot wait to buy the cobra record. its not life changing, but its fucking fun music, and i can respect that, as long as the artist can.

and its obvious gabe can.

[PunkVideoGuys]

filming Gabe on sat then going on tour with them. So excited gonna be in LA on the record release date with them. PUMPED.

[ColourandShape]

Cause they started retiring songs during the FWYK tour.

during the FWYK tour they consistently played 3 sogns off Save the World...

why retire songs off Living Well so early?

[danielplaysbass]

i think i could accept the breakup of bands like midtown a lot more if they did a final show, or better yet, a final tour. i know a lot of planning, money, and other things go into such things, but i'm sure something could be put together to give the kids one last midtown show where all the favorites from all the records were played.

with that said, i cannot wait to buy the cobra record. its not life changing, but its fucking fun music, and i can respect that, as long as the artist can.

agreed

[xearlynovemberx]

you have no idea how jealous i am.

no idea.

:-(

[ColourandShape]

1) Senses Fail is much bigger than Cobra Starship.
2) Your gimmicky argument is answered in track 1 of the new album, and in every post Gabe hass made on this website (and this email).
3) Generic is relative.
4) If Gabe wasn't doing this, I highly doubt we'd be any closer to a new Midtown album. The band would probably be on hiatus anyway. I'll take what I can get.

fine... everyone is midtown does their own shit, senses fail is bigger. generic is subjective. midtown would have been done regardless. fine.

gabe is a great musician. midtown is great band musically, no one can argue that. cobra songs are ridicoulusly simple to play, obvious and simple lyrics. you dont see this as a step back for gabe? midtown?

if your a talented guy, know music very well, make some really great, innovtative songs with excellent lyircs, why the FUCK would you make this album? by any means, its a step back, lyrically and musically. this shit has been done before. what exactly do you enjoy about this album?

[Caleb Cattivera]

fine... everyone is midtown does their own shit, senses fail is bigger. generic is subjective. midtown would have been done regardless. fine.

gabe is a great musician. midtown is great band musically, no one can argue that. cobra songs are ridicoulusly simple to play, obvious and simple lyrics. you dont see this as a step back for gabe? midtown?

if your a talented guy, know music very well, make some really great, innovtative songs with excellent lyircs, why the FUCK would you make this album? by any means, its a step back, lyrically and musically. this shit has been done before. what exactly do you enjoy about this album?

i've heard the album personally, and no, it's not the most innovative, or technical album i've ever heard. but it's one of the most fun albums i've heard in a long time. maybe he just wants to have fun man, you're talking like there is so many 'original' bands out there, nearly everything that's out right now has been done in some shape, form or fashion. try and name me 10 bands who are unique, and no one else has ever made an album or sound like theirs.

[xearlynovemberx]

i've heard the album personally, and no, it's not the most innovative, or technical album i've ever heard. but it's one of the most fun albums i've heard in a long time. maybe he just wants to have fun man, you're talking like there is so many 'original' bands out there, nearly everything that's out right now has been done in some shape, form or fashion. try and name me 10 bands who are unique, and no one else has ever made an album or sound like theirs.

Cal ftw

[Jason Tate]

fine... everyone is midtown does their own shit, senses fail is bigger. generic is subjective. midtown would have been done regardless. fine.

gabe is a great musician. midtown is great band musically, no one can argue that. cobra songs are ridicoulusly simple to play, obvious and simple lyrics. you dont see this as a step back for gabe? midtown?

if your a talented guy, know music very well, make some really great, innovtative songs with excellent lyircs, why the FUCK would you make this album? by any means, its a step back, lyrically and musically. this shit has been done before. what exactly do you enjoy about this album?
You're asking me to answer something Gabe himself has already answered.

If you don't like it, you don't like it - I'm not trying to change your mind. But your constant bitching and complaining isn't going to change anything.

[Jason Tate]

Cal ftw
Now if only he'd move in ...

[myARMISTICE]

I agree with this statement 100%.

Living Well Is The Best Revenge is one of my all-time favorite albums, and I'll bet you it would be fucking huge if it had been released 2-3 years after it originally was.

I still remember buying that before even really knowing who Midtown was - I mainly bought it because of the Drive-Thru logo on the back, haha. Turns out, I listened to that album for an entire year, just like I did later with Take This To Your Grave.

Too bad only two other friends of mine even know who Midtown is. I'm telling you, if they released it now, people would love it. Imagine a Midtown/Fall Out Boy/Spitalfield tour and how much kids would eat that shit up. Although, why have those cocksuckers at a good show like that? They'd just ruin it for me.

i totally agree: Living well is amazing and should have made them huge. Become what you hate is one of my all time favorite first tracks on an album. but i don't think it was the timing that wasn't right. it was the fact that mca did shit to promote that record. i also remember reading in AP awhile back that they willingly helped dig their grave with that album so they could get out of their contract with Dtr/mca

[Caleb Cattivera]

Now if only he'd move in ...

my lease is up for my apartment here on the 7th. plus there are about 10 good shows in october i cant miss. AND my mom has cards tickets for the 7th. and god knows im not missing that.

[strikeunderwear]

You're asking me to answer something Gabe himself has already answered.

If you don't like it, you don't like it - I'm not trying to change your mind. But your constant bitching and complaining isn't going to change anything.
Exactly. Maybe read the shit that Gabe wrote before asking all of these questions. He stated very clearly EXACTLY WHY he started Cobra. The comment about band loyalty is so ridiculous that I refuse to even respond to it, and the "I miss Midtown" comments are already just as tired as people consistently talking about old TBS any time they put out new shit, or how they preferred Saosin with Anthony on vocals.

Live in the now, motherfuckers. The shit's not gonna change. Please accept it and move on. Don't prattle on about "old times" like some fucking hippie who never got over The Beatles breaking up. It's absurd. And more than anything, it's really fucking tired.

P.S. I love Midtown. Know what though? I love Cobra Satrship too. I know exactly what Gabe is talking about when he talks about Cobra's music. And I can't wait to get trashed and dance my ass off at their show next week.

[IamTheINDUSTRY]

Gotta let the member do what they think is best. I'd rather not have them force an album or tour, if the members aren't in the mood to be doing it.

They should have exploded with "Living Well.." - it's still one of the best "pop-punk" CDs I've ever heard. Guess it was "before its time" - cause FOB fans today would probably eat that album up. Hell, "Still Trying" has a chorus that reminds me of "Grand Theft Auto's" chorus in a big way.



dont make me cry tate.

[alfonso]

How is it still not answered? I am trying to figure out how people can't figure this all out.

People are just not that smart...I really enjoyed this stuff, and as a musician, everything he said is entirely true, and reflects on decisions that I know I will someday have to make. Gabe is passionate about what he is doing, and that (in my opinion) is the only way to live.

[alfonso]

Exactly. Maybe read the shit that Gabe wrote before asking all of these questions. He stated very clearly EXACTLY WHY he started Cobra. The comment about band loyalty is so ridiculous that I refuse to even respond to it, and the "I miss Midtown" comments are already just as tired as people consistently talking about old TBS any time they put out new shit, or how they preferred Saosin with Anthony on vocals.

Live in the now, motherfuckers. The shit's not gonna change. Please accept it and move on. Don't prattle on about "old times" like some fucking hippie who never got over The Beatles breaking up. It's absurd. And more than anything, it's really fucking tired.

P.S. I love Midtown. Know what though? I love Cobra Satrship too. I know exactly what Gabe is talking about when he talks about Cobra's music. And I can't wait to get trashed and dance my ass off at their show next week.

This is also the same way I feel about Dan Keyes and Young Love, because as much as I loooove Recover, I love the Young Love stuff as well, but some people want more and more of the same.

[Melie]

it's ridiculous that he even needs to defend himself this much. he's making music and doing what he wants to do. the end.

[PlusDanny]

try and name me 10 bands who are unique, and no one else has ever made an album or sound like theirs.

Final Fantasy, Animal Collective, Cursive, Neutral Milk Hotel, Liars, The White Stripes, Devendra Banhart, Agalloch, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Of Montreal, Cap'n Jazz, The Arcade Fire, The Magnetic Fields, Tapes N Tapes, Sufjan Stevens, Bloc Party, Swan Lake, Peaches, Broken Social Scene, Danielson,..

[wtfemokid]

Nope. It was Taking Back Sunday,Brand New,Midtown,New Found Glory,Story Of The Year,Jay-Z(one song),Yeah Yeah Yeah's,Cypress Hill,The Beastie Boys

dfp 8? jesse lacey fell off of the drums or something... onto his face. hardly missed a beat. it was a good day. also the only time i got to see midtown, but they were great.

[HanusMaximus]

umm, a lot of those bands' albums sound like other bands. They just happen to be unique now, but their albums aren't as unique as you might think.

[raycer]

Final Fantasy, Animal Collective, Cursive, Neutral Milk Hotel, Liars, The White Stripes, Devendra Banhart, Agalloch, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Of Montreal, Cap'n Jazz, The Arcade Fire, The Magnetic Fields, Tapes N Tapes, Sufjan Stevens, Bloc Party, Swan Lake, Peaches, Broken Social Scene, Danielson,..

funny thing is when i first heard the bloc party single, i thought it was a new moving units (http://myspace.com/movingunits) song.

[Anton Djamoos]

I've been wondering for years how much FWYK sold and now I know that it's 75k. Thanks Gabe. That's pitiful compared to the fact that Silverstein sold over 100k of their record. Midtown deserved so much better for FWYK.

[thisisadisaster]

im really glad this statement was posted. it clears up alot of the questions i had about cobra, gabe, and midtown.
i personally think the cobra record is a fun release. people arent going to like it because it doesnt sound like midtown and its not serious, but its not supposed to be serious. just listen to it and have fun. if you cant do that, dont listen to it. noones forcing the music down your throat.

[Anton Djamoos]

im really glad this statement was posted. it clears up alot of the questions i had about cobra, gabe, and midtown.
i personally think the cobra record is a fun release. people arent going to like it because it doesnt sound like midtown and its not serious, but its not supposed to be serious. just listen to it and have fun. if you cant do that, dont listen to it. noones forcing the music down your throat.
Ding ding ding.

[FatJordan]

This band is alot better live than they are on the album. Like, these guys are PHENOMINAL live. The album is alright...but I guess it would be better to hear the album first and THEN see them live. Your expectations will be met that way.

And on a slightly unrelated note, Midtown's FWYK is probably one of my favorite albums of all time.

[thisisadisaster]

Ding ding ding.

i just wish more people could accept fun music for what it is and not try to make it into something its not. surprisingly, not all records are about changing the world or being the next nirvana. some records are just made to be enjoyable. more people should appreciate that.

[Joe DeAndrea]

I must be the only one who isn't a fan of Midtown..

[tycho_atd]

it's a great record, so good for him...

[1Roth4]

i love what i'm hearing......

when i read 10/10 i thought i was reading the result of the review ;)

[Mitch]

Damn

I gotta say just that simple letter made me respect CS a lot more.

[corybarker]

is there a place where I can find the record to listen?

[Anton Djamoos]

during the FWYK tour they consistently played 3 sogns off Save the World...

why retire songs off Living Well so early?
The new songs would give the old ones heart attacks.

[Mitch]

I do think that a lot of these CS songs sound alike though at times.

[twenty_below]

midtown reunion 2010?

[laxcrs]

I must be the only one who isn't a fan of Midtown..

yup

[Greg]

i also agree with the statement that along with your favorite weapon and nothing gold can stay, living well is the best revenge is one of the best pop punk cd's of all time. hands down. no question.

i remember listening to that shit on a walkman (!!) on the bus ride home in 9th grade. holy shit that was so long ago. jesus, i miss 1997.

i think i could accept the breakup of bands like midtown a lot more if they did a final show, or better yet, a final tour. i know a lot of planning, money, and other things go into such things, but i'm sure something could be put together to give the kids one last midtown show where all the favorites from all the records were played.

with that said, i cannot wait to buy the cobra record. its not life changing, but its fucking fun music, and i can respect that, as long as the artist can.

and its obvious gabe can.


dude none of the albums you listed were out in 97 for you to be listening on the bus ride home on walkman(!!!!). either you are full of shit trying to sound cool. or you are drunk and just have no clue what you are talking about.

[Greg]

I must be the only one who isn't a fan of Midtown..
you must be deaf!

i'm so sorry to hear that.

[ThatGuy]

I must be the only one who isn't a fan of Midtown..

no, i'm also in the club. i remember seeing them open for reggie back in 2003 (mcr opened up too...weird) and i thought they were awful. all i wanted them to play was the real world/road rules challenge song, and they never did. i threw a flip flop at them (from a crowdsurfer who lost her shoe) and almost hit the blonde guitarist. that was the best part of the show.

[Jason Tate]

dude none of the albums you listed were out in 97 for you to be listening on the bus ride home on walkman(!!!!). either you are full of shit trying to sound cool. or you are drunk and just have no clue what you are talking about.

Walkman = cd player.

[Jason Tate]

no, i'm also in the club. i remember seeing them open for reggie back in 2003 (mcr opened up too...weird) and i thought they were awful. all i wanted them to play was the real world/road rules challenge song, and they never did. i threw a flip flop at them (from a crowdsurfer who lost her shoe) and almost hit the blonde guitarist. that was the best part of the show.

Well, I lost the thin amount of respect I could have for someone over the internet with that statement.

[ThatGuy]

Well, I lost the thin amount of respect I could have for someone over the internet with that statement.

i didn't say i was proud of the act. should have clarified at the time it was the most fun part of midtown's show.

secondly, i never said they didn't have talent, just stating a personal preference that i was never a fan of midtown. or did me liking the song on the mtv show upset you?

[Anton Djamoos]

Walkman = cd player.
Save the World, Lose the Girl came out in 2000. There's no way he could have listened to any of these in 97. Your Favorite Weapon in 2001. Nothing Gold Can Stay in 1999.

[Caleb Cattivera]

Final Fantasy, Animal Collective, Cursive, Neutral Milk Hotel, Liars, The White Stripes, Devendra Banhart, Agalloch, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Of Montreal, Cap'n Jazz, The Arcade Fire, The Magnetic Fields, Tapes N Tapes, Sufjan Stevens, Bloc Party, Swan Lake, Peaches, Broken Social Scene, Danielson,..

mwuhahahaha. not quite. wow.

[dafries1]

I'm sorry, but I saw this band open for Gym Class the other night, and it was just a joke to me. Gabe looked ridiculous, they sounded awful live. Maybe in the recording studio they'll sound okay. It seems they are jumping on the whole dance/punk-/emo trend. I think Gabe should definitely not burn any bridges with his ex-bandmates, even though I wasn't the biggest Midtown fan either.

[Jason Tate]

I'm sorry, but I saw this band open for Gym Class the other night, and it was just a joke to me. Gabe looked ridiculous, they sounded awful live. Maybe in the recording studio they'll sound okay. It seems they are jumping on the whole dance/punk-/emo trend. I think Gabe should definitely not burn any bridges with his ex-bandmates, even though I wasn't the biggest Midtown fan either.

I don't think anyone reads my newsposts anymore. Instead they look at the bolded name and immediately hit "reply" to shit talk in whatever manner they can.

[XpunkXroutineX]

Tate, tell them to come to New Mexico.

[myworstmistakes]

it's so ridiculous that he has to even bother coming out and saying that, i mean how can you not get the sarcasm in the previous post? and the fact that he has to defend doing what he wants to do is precisely what he is saying is wrong in music today.

and so what if this album isn't the greatest piece of musical work ever? just because gabe is capable of doing so many amazing things, doesn't mean he can do them constantly. i mean i'm sure all the great creative work doesn't come easily, even to him. can you imagine the toll it must take? damn the guy needs a fuckin break from that, and we all know what he's capable of, why not just accept the fact that he made a fun album because it's what he wanted to do. if you don't like it that's fine but he's not going to change what he's doing for other people.

and also, to the kid who never saw midtown, that really sucks dude. one of the best experiences of my life.

[myworstmistakes]

no, i'm also in the club. i remember seeing them open for reggie back in 2003 (mcr opened up too...weird) and i thought they were awful. all i wanted them to play was the real world/road rules challenge song, and they never did. i threw a flip flop at them (from a crowdsurfer who lost her shoe) and almost hit the blonde guitarist. that was the best part of the show.

and you were 23 at the time you did this? wow.

[youareallfreaks]

turning down that much money, is foolish

[Adeniz19]

i think i've finally accepted there will never be another midtown album. :( cobra starship really isn't my thing but i can't knock on gabe for doing what he feels is the right thing to do. it takes a lot of balls to turn down a sure thing RIGHT NOW then to hope that he can make a career out of starship... like some people said this could just be a fad and after a couple albums we will never hear from him again.

anyways i wish gabe and the rest the band all the best of luck and i'll keep my fingers crossed that there is the slightest chance of midtown getting back together

[thesiz]

So why did I take the Decaydance deal?
because you are still the elitist you previously mentioned and the idea you being able to say you are on FBR/DECA and associated with pete and future frat rappers GCH is better than sex to you.

it honestly makes me sick to think of all the other great bands out there that dont get the attention or support they deserve, and this nutsack comes along and wants to make a dance record and gets all the praise in the world. fbr has some great, SERIOUS bands, maybe they should focus more attention on them.

[vegasbabyvegas]

The first track is sort of a response to you then.

Exactly

[Anton Djamoos]

So why did I take the Decaydance deal?
because you are still the elitist you previously mentioned and the idea you being able to say you are on FBR/DECA and associated with pete and future frat rappers GCH is better than sex to you.

it honestly makes me sick to think of all the other great bands out there that dont get the attention or support they deserve, and this nutsack comes along and wants to make a dance record and gets all the praise in the world. fbr has some great, SERIOUS bands, maybe they should focus more attention on them.
Or they could be a successful business and make money.

[mrzippo3]

I love Midtown and I like the Cobra stuff I've heard.. I'll be happy when I can see them live for the first time, anyways, whatever happens, I'll always be a Gabe Supporta

[iamlegend85]

I remember when Wes Borland released a solo cd that was suppose to be "silly." Even that horrible album is better than Cobra Starship, but is what I think of upon hearing it.

[mrzippo3]

also, JT, I agree with you, the FWYK tour was one of the best shows I've ever been to hands down

[IAPAI]

I love Midtown and I like the Cobra stuff I've heard.. I'll be happy when I can see them live for the first time, anyways, whatever happens, I'll always be a Gabe Supporta
I couldn't have said it better myself.

Cobra Starship is growing on me like mad, and I know people who had never been into Midtown (or even knew about them) who absolutely love CS, so I hope this album is a bigger success than what Gabe had hoped.

[preppyak]

Or they could be a successful business and make money.
Haha..I know. Maybe it's because CS fits really well into the FBR line-up...
I don't think anyone reads my newsposts anymore. Instead they look at the bolded name and immediately hit "reply" to shit talk in whatever manner they can.
Tate...I have to say, some of the new people that hit this site have got to be the dumbest people possible...logic and the music business elude them entirely

[Adeniz19]

So why did I take the Decaydance deal?
because you are still the elitist you previously mentioned and the idea you being able to say you are on FBR/DECA and associated with pete and future frat rappers GCH is better than sex to you.

it honestly makes me sick to think of all the other great bands out there that dont get the attention or support they deserve, and this nutsack comes along and wants to make a dance record and gets all the praise in the world. fbr has some great, SERIOUS bands, maybe they should focus more attention on them.ex: Days Away

[PlusDanny]

mwuhahahaha. not quite. wow.

Cop-out!

[RememberFminus2]

Well his goofy side is going to have so much promotion, he already attached on to snakes on a plane theres going to be alot more where that came from. he should have given his darker side fwyk more of a forum.

[a_sk8r]

why couldnt Midtown just get signed to FBR

[Jamie Pham]

FWYK really was a good cd

[myARMISTICE]

So why did I take the Decaydance deal?
because you are still the elitist you previously mentioned and the idea you being able to say you are on FBR/DECA and associated with pete and future frat rappers GCH is better than sex to you.

it honestly makes me sick to think of all the other great bands out there that dont get the attention or support they deserve, and this nutsack comes along and wants to make a dance record and gets all the praise in the world. fbr has some great, SERIOUS bands, maybe they should focus more attention on them.


it was a good career move for gabe to go with WENTZ over the columbia deal. i for one would like too see all the guys in Midtown get some much deserved attention for their talent. I always felt midtown was an extremely underrated band and i think it's awesome that most of them seem to be finding their nitch with success:

-Heath with Senses Fail
-Gabe w/ Cobra
-Rob with I surrender.

on a side note, i ran into rob in NYC the other night and shot the shit with him for awhile. he is a very cool and down to earth guy.

[chokeychicken]

I must be the only one who isn't a fan of Midtown..

but you like new found glory?

what the hell.

[Adrian Villagomez]

Sounds like Gabe picked the right label for himself. But maybe, just maybe in a couple of years AP.net will post a Cobra Starship interview where they bash Decaydance, then AP.net has to pull the interview, etc. etc.

[dafries1]

I don't think anyone reads my newsposts anymore. Instead they look at the bolded name and immediately hit "reply" to shit talk in whatever manner they can.

sorry man, im new to this posting thing, and just felt like i had to rant
dont worry, i dont wanna become that guy that bashes every band he doesn't think is cool

[Lehcar]

Gabe is an honest guy who says what's on his mind. If you can't respect that, then I don't know what to do with you.

& I heard the leak of the cd [don't worry, I AM buying it when it comes out] and it's pretty awesome.

[roedin]

Well, I lost the thin amount of respect I could have for someone over the internet with that statement.


same here. who the hell takes pride in throwing a sandle at a band (midtown nontheless) because they didn't play your rotten mtv show song.

[takingbackrufio]

Midtown could have been great.

Senses Fail and Cobra Starship will never make music like Midtown did. And for that, I am sad.

[NameTaken69]

ill take the CS album, but how i would love more midtown

[Shatter_Glass]

Wow. I'm glad we get a responce from ol' Gabe. Stop hateing.

[PlunketChris]

I'll take Cobra Starship, mostly because i can appreciate a fun project from someone who at one point made more "serious" music. It's nice to see people that don't take themselves seriously all the time. I have more respect for Gabe because he can show this side.

With that said, I'd kill for a new Midtown record, I remember walking to the local record store to buy Living Well Is The Best Revenge on the day it came out. I'm pretty sure that album was life changing for me. Become What You Hate is, by far, the best opening track on any album I own.

[thisisrightnow]

I love Gabe and how he can word things and make touchy subjects sound good.

I'm sad there won't be a Midtown anymore, but Cobra is still good nonetheless. I really want to see them. It's weird cause back when Gabe posted that first song mocking Gwen's song, no one really imagined that he would turn a side project song into a full band and sign to a whole new record label.

[TheBaroness]

good on him. life is short, you gotta do what makes you happy.

I'm really kicking myself that I missed Midtown's aussie tour, though

[Dervela]

im really glad this statement was posted. it clears up alot of the questions i had about cobra, gabe, and midtown.
i personally think the cobra record is a fun release. people arent going to like it because it doesnt sound like midtown and its not serious, but its not supposed to be serious. just listen to it and have fun. if you cant do that, dont listen to it. noones forcing the music down your throat.

amen. ditto that.

[Dervela]

I love Midtown and I like the Cobra stuff I've heard.. I'll be happy when I can see them live for the first time, anyways, whatever happens, I'll always be a Gabe Supporta

hahahah i love the pun.